DILI, East Timor Former East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri has
denied knowing members of his government allegedly supplied weapons to
civilians, in his first reaction to a U.N. report on violence that wracked
the tiny nation earlier this year.

A special U.N. commission on Tuesday recommended that Alkatiri's
defense and interior ministers be prosecuted for allegedly providing state
guns to renegade militias during a crisis in April and May that left at
least 33 people dead.

"As prime minister at that time I take full responsibility for the
activities of my ministers and my decisions," Alkatiri said Friday.
"About the weapons ... I am innocent."

The U.N. commission said it had not found evidence linking Alkatiri to
the weapons disbursements, but criticized him for failing to prevent them.
It recommended he undergo further criminal investigation.

Alkatiri said the report was merely a list of facts that "didn't
elaborate clearly about the root problem and the principal cause which
brought the crisis."

Alkatiri, who resigned under pressure from popular President Xanana
Gusmao and members of his own Cabinet, has alleged that the bloodshed was
orchestrated by political opponents seeking to topple him.

East Timor descended into chaos following the April dismissal of 600
soldiers who had gone on strike to protest alleged discrimination. The
move split the armed forces into factions and spilled over into gang
warfare that sent 150,000 fleeing from their homes.

It was the worst violence since 1999, when East Timor's break from 24
years of brutal Indonesian rule sent revenge-seeking militias on a rampage
that killed about 1,500 people.

Calm largely returned with the arrival of international peacekeepers
and the installation of a new government headed by Prime Minister Jose
Ramos-Horta, who shared the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize with Bishop Carlos
Belo.

But isolated acts of violence continue and about 100,000 remain in
crowded camps.

DILI, East Timor Former East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri has
denied knowing members of his government allegedly supplied weapons to
civilians, in his first reaction to a U.N. report on violence that wracked
the tiny nation earlier this year.

A special U.N. commission on Tuesday recommended that Alkatiri's
defense and interior ministers be prosecuted for allegedly providing state
guns to renegade militias during a crisis in April and May that left at
least 33 people dead.

"As prime minister at that time I take full responsibility for the
activities of my ministers and my decisions," Alkatiri said Friday.
"About the weapons ... I am innocent."

The U.N. commission said it had not found evidence linking Alkatiri to
the weapons disbursements, but criticized him for failing to prevent them.
It recommended he undergo further criminal investigation.

Alkatiri said the report was merely a list of facts that "didn't
elaborate clearly about the root problem and the principal cause which
brought the crisis."

Alkatiri, who resigned under pressure from popular President Xanana
Gusmao and members of his own Cabinet, has alleged that the bloodshed was
orchestrated by political opponents seeking to topple him.

East Timor descended into chaos following the April dismissal of 600
soldiers who had gone on strike to protest alleged discrimination. The
move split the armed forces into factions and spilled over into gang
warfare that sent 150,000 fleeing from their homes.

It was the worst violence since 1999, when East Timor's break from 24
years of brutal Indonesian rule sent revenge-seeking militias on a rampage
that killed about 1,500 people.

Calm largely returned with the arrival of international peacekeepers
and the installation of a new government headed by Prime Minister Jose
Ramos-Horta, who shared the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize with Bishop Carlos
Belo.

But isolated acts of violence continue and about 100,000 remain in
crowded camps.

ELEANOR HALL: East Timor's former Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, has
denied new accusations that he was involved in any way in the illegal
transfer of weapons, during the country's recent crisis.

The United Nations has completed an independent inquiry into the
ongoing bloodshed in East Timor, and has recommended further
investigations to see if Mr Alkatiri bears any criminal responsibility,
although it's stopped short of recommending charges against him.

More than 35 people were killed and tens of thousands fled their homes
as street gangs roamed the streets in the fledgling nation's capital
earlier this year.

Anne Barker has our report.

ANNE BARKER: The United Nations commission of inquiry interviewed more
than 200 witnesses to find those responsible for the violence which
erupted in April. It's named dozens of individuals it holds responsible
for the 37 deaths and many shootings. It recommends most face criminal
prosecution.

But it found no evidence the former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri was
personally involved in the illegal transfer of weapons, as some have
alleged, although it suspects he knew of the weapons transfer and should
face further investigation to see if he bears any criminal responsibility.

Mari Alkatiri denies he had any knowledge at all.

MARI ALKATIRI: They are just suspicions. Here in this country we have,
you know, the (inaudible) of rumours and suspicions and defamations. But
the investigation has been done by the Prosecutor General since June, and,
of course, let us wait until the decision from the Prosecutor General.

ANNE BARKER: At the very least, the UN criticises Mari Alkatiri for
failing to use his authority to denounce the weapons transfer, given the
credible information that his own government ministers were involved.

The former Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato has already been charged.

But Mari Alkatiri says the UN is dreaming if it thinks he could have
done anything to intervene.

MARI ALKATIRI: If you really think that in two days' time you could
have a time of crisis, real crisis in the country, you could have really
time enough to set up a commission of inquiry, or a commission of,
(inaudible) commissions.

I tried to visit the places of where the weapon was supposed to be, and
I was (inaudible) the weapon (inaudible).

ANNE BARKER: The allegations against Mari Alkatiri intensified pressure
on him to resign, as he finally did in late June.

Without hard evidence to support a prosecution, the report prompts
questions as to whether he was wrongly forced from office.

ALEXANDER DOWNER: He was removed by the East Timorese, through the
processes of their political system. I wouldn't dare to comment on whether
they did the right or the wrong thing. We worked successfully with Mari
Alkatiri when he was the Prime Minister.

We, as you know, worked very well with Jose Ramos Horta as the Prime
Minister. But who they choose as their Prime Minister and how Prime
Ministers rise and fall in East Timor, it must be their business.

ANNE BARKER: The UN report also criticised the President, Xanana Gusmao,
for failing to follow institutional procedures, but doesn't recommend he
face charges.

And the most serious findings relate to the rebel leader Alfredo
Reinado, still on the run from jail.

The commission of inquiry accuses Reinado and his supporters of
committing crimes against life, and recommends they face prosecution.

Last night President Gusmao called for maturity and calm, in case the
report provokes further violence.

It's a sentiment Alexander Downer shares.

ALEXANDER DOWNER: It's important there is calm. I understand from our
ambassador in Dili that the situation is calm, at least at the moment
we're speaking, and hopefully it will remain so, and that the East
Timorese follow their normal legal processes in dealing with the
conclusions of the UN commission of inquiry.